PICTURESQUE MYANMAR 8D7N

Day 1: ARRIVAL YANGON [-/-/D]             

Welcome by our tour guide upon arrival at Yangon International Airport. Dine at local restaurant. Check-in at hotel and overnight at Yangon.

Day 2: YANGON – BAGAN (BY FLIGHT) [B/L/D]      

After breakfast, visit Shwezigon Pagoda- the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine. Visit Kyan-Sit-Thar U Min, Hilominlo Temple, Ananda Temple- built after the Shwezigon Pagoda in 1090 by king Kyansittha, the masterpiece of the early style  temple architecture; there are four huge Buddha Images in the standing position and eighty reliefs depicting the Life of Buddha from his Birth to His Enlightenment. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Shwe San Daw Pagoda, Dhammanyangyi Temple, the most massive structure in Bagan, built by King Narathu (1167-70), Thatbyinnyu Temple- a white stucco building, the highest temple in Bagan built by King Alaung Sithu in mid-12 Century; Gawdawpalin,60 meters high, built by King Narapatisithu during the 13th century. Enjoy the beauty of sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy river with the backdrop of Tant Kyi Hill on the platform of Bu Paya. Dine at local restaurant. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 3: BAGAN-POPA-BAGAN   [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano. Rising out of the shimmering heat, Mt. Popa is home to Myanmar's most powerful "nats". Visit the Nat Museum with its life-sized statues of the 37 Nat Gods. Walk up the steps to the Stupas and shrines that top the hill above the museum, seeing many pilgrims along the way. The way by the roadside can see the locals climbing up the palm tree and making jaggery. Lunch at local restaurant in Popa. Afternoon tour begins with Sin Phyu Shin Complex, where the teaching of Buddhist Scripture was initiated as the school for Sangha. Then, visit Sulamani Temple, the most beautiful brick wall built by King Narapati Sithu during the 13Century; Manuha Temple built by King Manuha in 1059 AD. Tour continues to Myanmar Traditional Lacquer-ware workshop and Puppet Tapestry. Enjoy the beauty of sunset at Lawkananda Pagoda, where the Buddha's tooth relic was enshrined built by King Anawrahta. Dine at local restaurant. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 4     BAGAN-MANDALAY (BY FLIGHT)  [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival at airport and proceed to Amarapura, situated about 15 km south of Mandalay, an ancient capital of Konbaung Dynasty. Visit Mahagandayon Monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study Buddhism. Continue to 229 year-old U BEIN teak bridge built in 1782. Continue to Mandalay and lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to Hotel.  On arrival, transfer to hotel for check-in.  Visit MAHAMUNI PAGODA with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Then, proceed to Mya Nan San Kyaw – Golden Palace of the Last Myanmar Kingdom – Konbaung Dynasty, then  to SHWE NAN DAW KYAUNG(the GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY), a superb example of a traditional wooden building and to KUTHODAW PAGODA, where the world’s largest book, consisting of 729 marble slabs sculpted with the Three Baskets of Buddhist scripture were housed. Enjoy sunset on the Mandalay Hill.Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 5:  MANDALAY-MINGUN-SAGAING-MANDALAY(BY FLIGHT)              [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel.Departing from Mandalay, you will discover the charms of old Burma as you take a journey through two of Myanmar's ancient capitals. Drive to Kywezoon jetty to watch the busy riverside activity and take a local riverboat to the ancient capital of Mingun (approx. 1 hour per way). Visit the Settawya Pagoda, with a footprint of the Buddha, walk to the huge Mingun Bell- the world’s largest ringing bell exists (It weighs 55555 viss), the nearby unfinished Mingun Pahtodawgyi- one of the famous buildings in the world., Myatheindan (Hsinbyume) Pagoda, built by King Bagyidaw in 1816, three years before he succeeded Bodawpaya as king, the pagoda was constructed in memory of his senior wife the Hsinbyume princess., a reproduction of the mythological Mt. Meru. Drive back to Mandalay. And lunch at local restaurant. And drive to Sagaing Hill. The Sagaing Hills are dotted with pagodas and there are over 500 monasteries, a retreat for some 6000 monks and nuns. Soon U Ponnya Shin Pagoda, Kaung Hmudaw Pagoda ( a copy of the Mahaceti Pagoda in Sri Lanka), and Ywahtaung (home of the silversmiths’ guilds) are places worth visiting. Then, return to Mandalay. Have dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel.

Day 6:  MANDALAY-INLE             [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Heho. From Heho, a scenic one-hour scenic drive leads to NyaungShwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the teak monastery of Shweyanpyay to see the intricate artwork and craftsmanship of wood carving. Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Visit NgaHpeChaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ that jump through hoops in the air! Continue to PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Innpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.Overnight in Inle.  

Day 7: INLE – YANGON               [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Yangon. Upon Arrival, visit A Huge Sitting Marble Buddha Image, LawkaChantha Abaya Lahba Muni meaning Buddha blessing the whole Universe, being healthy, wealthy and free from danger. From there, a few metres away, visit the house of the three Royal White Elephants. Proceed to Kabar Aye (World peace)Pagoda and MahapasanaGuha, where the Sixth Buddhist Synod and the World Buddhist Summit  took place. Lunch at local restaurant and transfer to hotel. In the evening, visit the most magnificent and spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda before the sunset and enjoy the beauty of Stupa while it changes the shining of gold in different tones according to the radiant of the setting sun. Dine at Karaweik Palace  restaurant with cultural show and overnight at Yangon

Day 8:  YANGON DEPARTURE

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Bothtaung Pagoda and sightseeing to the city centre including City Hall, MahaBandoola Park, Independence Monument. Shopping at Bogyoke (Scott) Market with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Lunch at local restaurant. Then, transfer to International airport for departure “HOME SWEET HOME”.